SONNET

 Sonnet – As a literary form

 

1. Introduction

The sonnet is a short lyric poem of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter. It is one of the most important poetic forms in English and European literature. The word “sonnet” comes from the Italian word sonetto, meaning “a little song.” This form allows the poet to express deep emotion, especially about love, beauty, nature, and time. Though it began in Italy, the sonnet became extremely popular in England, especially during the Elizabethan Age.

 

2. Origin and History

The sonnet form began in 13th-century Italy. Its earliest and most famous practitioner was Francesco Petrarch. He wrote a sequence of love sonnets to his muse, Laura. His form, now called the Petrarchan sonnet, influenced all of Europe. In the 16th century, Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey brought the form to England. They translated and adapted Petrarch’s sonnets into English. Later, William Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser developed their own unique sonnet forms. The sonnet reached its golden age in Elizabethan England.

 

3. Structure of a Sonnet

All sonnets have 14 lines, usually written in iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line, with stress on every second syllable). However, the internal structure and rhyme scheme vary with each sonnet type.

The sonnet often moves through a logical argument or emotional shift, usually marked by a volta or turn in thought. This turn often occurs between the octave and sestet (in Italian sonnets) or in the final couplet (in English sonnets).

 

4. Major Types of Sonnets

A. Petrarchan Sonnet (Italian Sonnet)

  • Structure: 8-line octave + 6-line sestet
  • Rhyme scheme: ABBAABBA (octave); CDECDE or CDCDCD (sestet)
  • Function: The octave presents a problem or idea; the sestet offers a resolution or counterpoint.
  • Volta (turn): Typically comes at the start of the sestet (line 9).
  • Example: Petrarch’s Sonnet 90.

B. Shakespearean Sonnet (English Sonnet)

  • Structure: Three quatrains (4 lines each) + one rhymed couplet
  • Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
  • Function: Each quatrain develops an idea; the final couplet offers a conclusion or twist.
  • Volta: Usually appears in the couplet.
  • Example: Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”)

C. Spenserian Sonnet

  • Invented by: Edmund Spenser
  • Structure: Three linked quatrains and a rhymed couplet
  • Rhyme scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE
  • Feature: Interlinked rhyme gives it musical flow.
  • Example: Spenser’s Amoretti sequence.

 

5. Themes and Subjects in Sonnets

The traditional sonnet often explores love, beauty, time, and mortality. Many poets wrote sonnet sequences—linked sonnets that tell a story or explore one deep feeling. Later sonneteers explored themes of faith, politics, nature, and self-reflection. The form allows both personal emotion and intellectual reflection.

 

6. Famous Sonneteers and Their Contributions

  • Petrarch: Master of the love sonnet. His poems to Laura shaped the form’s tradition.
  • Wyatt and Surrey: Introduced and adapted the sonnet to English.
  • William Shakespeare: Wrote 154 sonnets, exploring love, lust, time, jealousy, and poetry itself.
  • Edmund Spenser: Created a new structure and elevated the sonnet’s musicality.
  • John Milton: Used the form for political and religious themes (e.g., “On His Blindness”).
  • Wordsworth: Revived the sonnet in the Romantic age, using it for nature and personal feeling.
  • Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Sonnets from the Portuguese—romantic and powerful.

 

7. Style and Language

The sonnet’s tight structure demands careful word choice. Poets use metaphors, similes, allusions, and symbolism. Each line carries weight. The volta or turn gives it dramatic power. The sonnet form teaches discipline. It forces poets to compress big thoughts into a small space. Yet it allows great emotional depth.

 

8. The Sonnet in Later Periods

In modern and contemporary poetry, the sonnet is still used—but often in new forms. Poets now write blank verse sonnets, free verse sonnets, or experiment with structure. Still, the basic appeal remains: the sonnet gives form to strong feelings.

 

Conclusion

The sonnet is a powerful and enduring poetic form. From Petrarch to Shakespeare, from Milton to modern poets, it has shaped English and European literature. With only 14 lines, it captures deep emotion and complex thought. Its beauty lies in its balance—between feeling and form, order and inspiration. The sonnet remains a timeless tool for poetic expression.

Works Cited:

  • Abrams, M. H., and Geoffrey Galt Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 7th ed., Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999.
  • Baldick, Chris. The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford University Press, 2015.
  • Sanders, Andrew. The Short Oxford History of English Literature. Oxford University Press, 2004.
  • Spiller, Michael R. G. The Development of the Sonnet: An Introduction. Routledge, 1992.

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